Vikings Restructure Adam Thielen’s Deal
Adam Thielen is staying put. On Friday, the wide receiver agreed to restructure his deal in order to remain with the Vikings, according to a tweet from his agency. 
The Vikings entered the offseason with one of the worst cap situations in the league and Thielen was viewed as a potential cap casualty. The two-time Pro Bowler was set to carry a $16.8MM cap hit this year. The Vikings could have released him to save $5.7MM against $11.1MM in dead money, or spread that dead money hit over the next two seasons via the post-June 1 designation. Ultimately, the Vikings wanted to keep the wide receiver – they just needed a little bit of cooperation on his part.
Thielen, 32 in August, registered 67 receptions for 726 yards and ten touchdowns in just 13 games last year. While it was a solid showing, it was something of a down year by his standards. Between his 2017 and 2018 Pro Bowl campaigns, Thielen averaged upwards of 1,300 yards per slate.
Thielen’s restructured contract includes $18MM guaranteed with a raise to $14.4MM in 2022 (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Meanwhile, for salary cap purposes, a void year has been added to the deal.
While Thielen is staying in Minnesota, the same can’t be said for cornerback Mackensie Alexander.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-Signed: LB Ezekiel Turner
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Marquel Lee
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-Signed: LB Luke Gifford
Denver Broncos
- Re-Signed: DL DeShawn Williams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: RB Ameer Abdullah
Miami Dolphins
- Re-Signed: TE Durham Smythe
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Jamil Douglas
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: KR/PR Gunner Olszewski
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-Signed: OL Kyle Fuller
Bucs To Sign Logan Ryan
The Buccaneers are rolling out the pewter carpet for Tom Brady. On Friday, the Bucs agreed to sign defensive back and former Brady teammate Logan Ryan, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 
Ryan was released by the Giants on Thursday, bringing his three-year, $31MM deal to an early end. The 31-year-old wasn’t a fit for the new regime, but he was still productive last year as he notched 117 tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and eight passes defensed across 15 games.
The veteran first made his name in New England, where he spent four seasons with Brady and the Pats. Along the way, he won two Super Bowls and positioned himself for a three-year, $30MM deal with the Titans. He enjoyed one of his most productive seasons in 2019, setting career-highs in tackles (113), passes defended (18), sacks (4.5), and forced fumbles (four), but the Titans didn’t want him back. That led him to the Giants, where he switched to safety and notched 200+ tackles over two seasons.
The terms of the deal are not yet known, but Ryan is still set to collect $5.5MM from the Giants this year, so the Bucs probably didn’t have to break the bank for him.
Seahawks Re-Sign DT Al Woods
Al Woods is returning to Seattle. The Seahawks announced that they have re-signed the veteran defensive tackle.
The former fourth-round pick has been able to stick around the NFL for more than a decade. After serving as mostly a backup, special teamer, or roster fodder in stops with the Saints, Steelers (two stints), Buccaneers, Seahawks (first stint), and Titans, Woods finally got a chance to start full-time with the Colts in 2017. He spent two seasons in Indy before returning to Seattle in 2019.
Woods saw time in 14 games that season, but he missed a handful of games while serving a suspension for performance-enhancing substances. He joined the Jaguars for the 2020 season but opted out, and the team released him from his contract last offseason. He joined the Seahawks for his third stint with the organization and had one of the best seasons of his career.
Woods started all 16 of his games last season, collecting a career-high 50 tackles to go with 1.5 sacks and five QB hits.
49ers Sign WR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud
The 49ers are adding a special teams ace. San Francisco is signing wide receiver/return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year deal, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). The deal is worth up to $10.4MM, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
The former sixth-round pick bounced around the NFL during his first two years in the league, but he found a home in Pittsburgh over the past two saeasons. He got into 16 games during his first year with the Steelers, but he took a significant step forward in 2021.
McCloud made a name for himself on special teams, leading the NFL in punt return yardage at 367. He also returned 35 kickoffs for 776 yards. He wasn’t a scrub on offense, either; he hauled in 39 receptions for 277 yards, and he added another 15 yards on two carries.
Now, the 25-year-old is off to San Francisco. The Steelers made an effort to retain McCloud but the 49ers made a “stronger commitment,” according to Fowler (on Twitter).
Bears Sign WR Byron Pringle
New Bears general manager Ryan Poles is recruiting his former Chiefs players to Chicago. The Bears are signing receiver Byron Pringle, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
Pringle is inking a one-year, $6MM deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The wideout will get $4MM in guaranteed money.
Poles was the Chiefs’ director of college scouting when Kansas City signed Pringle as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State in 2018. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, Pringle established a minor role in the Chiefs offense, appearing in 29 games for the team between 2019 and 2020.
He took it to another level in 2021, having a career year ahead of his free agency. Pringle finished the season with 42 receptions for 568 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games (five starts). The 28-year-old also started two of the Chiefs’ three playoff games, hauling in 12 catches for 82 yards and three scores. Pringle also has extensive experience on special teams, returning 25 kicks this past season.
The Bears will be hard pressed to replace Allen Robinson, but Pringle should easily slide into the depth chart. Darnell Mooney is expected to lead the way for Chicago in 2022.
Packers Trade WR Davante Adams To Raiders
Davante Adams‘ stint with the Packers has come to a sudden end. The Packers are trading the Pro Bowl wideout to the Raiders, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The Packers will receive the Raiders’ first- and second-round picks in this year’s draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Raiders are also inking Adams to a record-breaking contract. The wideout will sign a five-year, $141.25MM deal with Las Vegas, with his $28.25MM average annual salary setting a new record for the position (per Rapoport).
There were whispers that Adams could be on the move, but the return of Aaron Rodgers had many assuming that the star wide receiver would be back in Green Bay next season. Of course, there was still the matter of a contract; the Packers ended up franchising Adams when they couldn’t agree on an extension prior to the tender deadline, but the wideout later made it clear that he wouldn’t play the 2022 season on the franchise tag (one-year, $20.5MM). Adams has been pushing for a megadeal to top DeAndre Hopkins‘ $27MM/year contract, and per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter), the Packers were willing to meet his asking price. However, Adams ultimately wanted to play elsewhere, leading to the trade.
Whenever a potential Adams trade was brought up, the Raiders were consistently mentioned as a top suitor. This wasn’t only due to the Raiders’ need for a top-end wide receiver; it was also because of the friendship between Adams and quarterback Derek Carr, who were teammates at Fresno State. Carr said last summer that he would “welcome” a reunion with his good friend, and he acknowledged that he’d be “recruiting hard” by the time the 2022 offseason came around. Ultimately, Carr got his wish, and he’ll now be adding one of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers.
A few eyebrows were raised when it was recently reported that Adams had bought a home in the Las Vegas area, and Rapoport tweets that the receiver will actually be neighbors with his new QB. Rapoport adds that the Raiders and Packers had been working on a deal for a few days, although NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the trade was dead as recently as yesterday.
Adams had a standout career with the Packers aftre being selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. The receiver earned a pair of first-team All-Pro nods and made five-straight Pro Bowls during his time in Green Bay. After putting up some incredible numbers in recent seasons, Adams somehow took it to another level in 2021. The wideout finished the season with a career-high 1,553 receiving yards on 123 receptions. He also hauled in 11 touchdowns.
Josh McDaniels and co. were reportedly seeking a top-end receiver to pair with receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller. DeSean Jackson provided a bit of a spark after joining the organization, but there was no guarantee he would stick around (plus he profiles as a lower-end WR). The team also lost a key future piece in Henry Ruggs.
While Green Bay settled their issues with their franchise QB, they now have some major question marks elsewhere on offense. The team’s receivers depth chart is currently led by Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and the Bears signed away Equanimeous St. Brown earlier today. It will be interesting to see if the Packers are able to attract one of the few remaining FA wideouts, and Schefter confirms (on Twitter) that the team is indeed pursuing veteran receivers. And for those wondering, Rapoport tweets that Rodgers has indeed signed his new contract. In fact, Rodgers was aware that Adams was done with the Packers when he inked his new deal, so this trade won’t come as any surprise to the QB (per Rapoport).
Dolphins Re-Sign LB Brennan Scarlett
Brennan Scarlett is heading back to Miami. The Dolphins are re-signing the linebacker, according to agent Henry Organ (and passed along by Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com).
Scarlett joined the Dolphins last offseason and ended up getting into 13 games (four starts). He finished the season with 19 tackles, and while he got some run on defense, his main impact came on special teams (77 percent of Miami’s ST snaps). A knee injury forced him to miss all of December’s games.
The linebacker spent the first five seasons of his career with the Texans, starting 22 games. His best season came in 2019 when he finished with 51 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Falcons Sign RB Damien Williams
Damien Williams is taking his talents to Atlanta. The free agent running back is signing with the Falcons, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
Williams is inking a one-year deal with Atlanta. Doug Kyed of PFF tweets that the deal is worth $1.62MM, including a $500K signing bonus. ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted earlier today that the running back was set to meet with the Falcons organization.
The 29-year-old spent the 2021 season with the Bears, but his numbers were a far cry from what he put up during his stint with the Chiefs. After collecting 1,127 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in two years with Kansas City, Williams finished 2021 with only 267 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in 12 games (two starts). However, the RB clearly made an impression on former Bears GM Ryan Pace, who is now working in Atlanta’s front office.
Williams spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dolphins. It’s been a while, but the RB also had a stint as a kick returner during his time in Miami.
In Atlanta, Williams will be joining a depth chart that was led by free agent Cordarrelle Patterson last season. At the moment, Atlanta has Mike Davis, Qadree Ollison, and Caleb Huntley under contract.
Ravens Sign DT Michael Pierce
Michael Pierce is returning to Baltimore. The veteran defensive tackle is signing with the Ravens, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Pierce will sign a three-year, $16.5MM deal with Baltimore, per Rapoport.
Pierce earned his walking papers from Minnesota earlier this week. The Vikings tried to convince Pierce to take a “moderate pay cut,” and when that didn’t happen, they tried to trade him. They couldn’t find any takers, so they ended up moving on from the defensive lineman. Pierce signed a three-year, $27MM deal with the Vikings in 2020, and he was set to have a $10.5MM cap hit in 2022. His release left behind $4MM in dead cap.
After opting out of the 2020 campaign, Pierce made his Vikings debut in 2021. He ultimately collected 20 tackles and three sacks in eight starts. He suffered an elbow injury that forced him to miss the middle chunk of the season.
Following his release from Minnesota, there were whispers that Pierce could look towards a reunion with Baltimore (via Josina Anderson on Twitter), but it was uncertain if the return of Za’Darius Smith would price the Ravens out of the sweepstakes. Ultimately, the two sides agreed to terms, and Pierce will now return to the team that took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent in 2016. The Stanford product ended up spending the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, starting 30 of his 60 games.